Improvement in hinges for gates



Figs. I and II, so as 'to form a shoulder, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

CHARLES B. CLARK, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN HINGES FOR GATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 111,515, dated February7, 1871.

I, CHARLES B. CLARK, of the city of Butfalo, in the county of Erie andState of New York, haveinventedanImprovementinGate-Hinges, of which thefollowing is a specification:v

My improvement relates more particularly to the method of constructingthe pintle or coupling-bolt of gate-hinges; and the invention consistsof a coupling-bolt a portion of which is made of less diameter than therest, so as to form a shoulder which will engage with one of theknuckles of the hinge when the parts are in the position in which theyare pressed when supporting the weight of the gate, and thus prevent thewithdrawal of the bolt.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I represents a side elevation of aportion of a gate, with the knuckles of the hinges in section. Fig. IIis a detached view of my improved coupling-bolt. Fig. III is a sectionalview of a hinge, showing a modified form of the coupling-bolt.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in each of the figures.

A represents the vertical end piece of a gate, which is hinged to thestationary post B.

C and D are the respective portions of the upper and lower hinges, whichare attached to the stationary post B, and C D the correspondingportions attached to the gate. c d are the knuckles of the parts C I),and c d the knuckles of the parts C D', all of which parts may beconstructed in the ordinary manner. E is my improved bolt, by which theknuckles of the two hinges are coupled together.

The body of this bolt, instead of being made of uniform size, is reducedin diameter at the' center, or that portion reduced which passes throughthe knuckles c and d', as shown at e, The ends of the bolt are of equalsize, and are made to fit the holes in the knuckles, which are also ofuniform size, as represented.

The hinges being attached to the gate and post in the usual manner, theweight of the gate acting on the hinges will press the lower knuckle,d', attached to the gate, inward or toward the post B and against theside of the reduced portion e of the coupling-bolt, while the upper andcorresponding knuckle, c', will be drawn outward or from the post, so asto cause the knuckle to press against the tippesite side of the centralportion of the bolt, as clearly represented in Fig. I.

While in this position it is evident that, in attempting to withdraw thecoupling-bolt of either hinge, the shoulder c below the reduced portionwill strike against the lower edge ot' either knuckle c and d', andtlius prevent the withdrawal of the bolt, which can only be effected byraising and supporting the gate at its outer or free end, so as to leavethe knuckles c' d free, so that the holes therein can be brought tocoincide with the holes in the knuckles c d.

Instead ot' reducing the size of the couplingbolt at the center, theends of the bolt, or the portions which pass through the eyes ot' theknuckles c d, may be reduced in size, as shown in Fig. III, when thesame or a similar ett'ect will be produced by the engagement of theshoulder e with the edge of the upper half ot' the knuckle d, asrepresented in said figure. I prefer, however, the construction shown inFigs. I and II.

Aplain cylindrical pin for uniting the parts of gate-hinges is the kindmost generally used 5 but, owing to the ease with which thiscoupling-bolt can bewithdrawn,considerable incon` venience has beenexperienced from mischievous boys uncoupling the hinges and carrying offthe bolts.

It is evident that my improvement will render the withdrawal of the boltso difficult as to prevent in a great measure, it' not entirely, thismischievous disconnection of the parts.

What I claim is#- The coupling-boltE of a gate-hinge, having the portionwhich passes through one of the knuckles reduced iu diameter the lengthof the knuckle, so as to form a shoulder, e', arranged and operatingwith the knuckles ot' said hinge, to prevent the uncouplin g thereof',as hereinbefore set forth.

CHARLES B. CLARK.

Witnesses:

J AY HYATT, J No. J. BONNER.

